Priority Method Research Articles

AI-based software-defined virtual network function scheduling with delay optimization

AI-based network function virtualization (NFV) is an emerging technique that separates network control functionality from dedicated hardware middleboxes and is virtualized to reduce capital and operational costs. With the advances of NFV and AI-based software-defined networks, dynamic network service demands can be flexibly and effectively accomplished by connecting multiple virtual network functions (VNFs) running on virtual machines. However, such promising technology also introduces several new research challenges. Due to resource constraints, service providers may have to deploy different service function chains (SFCs) to share the same physical resources. Such sharing inevitably forces the scheduling of the SFCs and resources, which consumes computational time and introduces problems associated with reducing the response delay. In this paper, we address this challenge by developing two dynamic priority methods for queuing AI-based VNFs/services to improve the user experience. We account for both transmission and processing delays in our proposed algorithms and achieve a new processing order (scheduler) for VNFs to minimize the overall scheduling delay. The simulation results indicate that the proposed scheme can promote the performance of AI-based VNFs/services to meet strict latency requirements.

Conflict Theory in Connection to Peace Agreement in Zanzibar

Conflict theory is one among the theory of Criminology developed by Durkheim, Emile and Karl Marx. When there are two sides of different opinions or views on the same matter that is where a contradiction occurs. When contradiction occurs creates a room for conflicts, quarrels, chaos or misunderstanding between the same person(s) as it creates classes or division of people. This is where conflict theory emerged as it refers to the misunderstanding between two or more person(s) who are in different positions of power and authority on a particular matter. Due to such misunderstanding between such persons, crime is unquestionably emerging. Peace agreements have been a suitable and appropriate method of settling disputes among the aggrieved parties worldwide. Many of the countries with conflicts whether within (internal conflicts) the country or with another country (external conflicts for instance Lake Lanoux case between Spain and France over the utilization of certain waters in the Pyrenees for a hydroelectric scheme) mostly preferred peace agreements as their first priority method of putting aside their differences. But in most cases this methodology of settling disputes or conflicts fails, and other methodology which are muscular methods such as using army forces and the likes of are deployed. Misunderstanding creates a possibility on the existence of conflict between those who are arguing against each other. When conflict emerge, there are number of ways on how to settle such dispute, and one among them is peaceful means of settling dispute through negotiation, arbitration, reconciliation, mediation and the likes of. The concerned issues is why this methodology of settling conflicts between countries or members or groups of people to a great extent fails, hence resulted to the deploy of another methods of settling disputes with the case study of Zanzibar-Tanzania Island. Zanzibar consists of the two main islands, Unguja and Pemba, and several smaller islets. The modern history of Zanzibar is generally considered to have started with the establishment of Omani rule in Zanzibar in 1832, though its history goes back to before the advent of the Christian era. Omani Arabs had pushed the Portuguese colonists in to Mozambique, and themselves colonised the East Africa coast and the islands. When the British occupied East Africa, Zanzibar became a British protectorate in 1890, which lasted until December 1963. Following independence, in April 1964, Zanzibar merged with Tanganyika (now Mainland Tanzania) to form the United Republic of Tanzania. The Articles of Union formally established two governments: the national government of the United Republic of Tanzania, responsible for all union matters and non-union matters on the mainland; and a government in Zanzibar with autonomy for all non-Union matters within its area of jurisdiction, with the exception of those matters exclusively the prerogative of the national government.

EXPERIENCE OF RECONSTRUCTION OF THE BREAST WITH THE USE OF THORACODORSAL FLAP

Purpose: To analyze the results of treatment and the quality of medical care for breast cancer patients with breast reconstruction using thoracodorsal flap (TDF). Material and methods: The study was conducted on the basis of the N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology at the Department of Breast Tumors for the period 2016-2017. When using the reconstruction of the breast with the help of TDF the feature was the complete intersection of the muscle in the anterior-axillary line before closing the defect of the breast tissue but with the preservation of the thoracodorsal vascular sheaf. Surgical treatment was provided to 67 patients with breast cancer including after neoadjuvant therapy. Results: One-time reconstruction was performed in 16 (23.8%) patients under the organ-preserving surgery, mastectomy in two (2.9%) patients and mastectomy with implant placement in 27 (40.2%) patients. Delayed reconstruction of the breast: TDF in combination with the implant - 20 (29.8%), the use of TDF without an implant - 2 (2.9%) patients. Complications were observed in 6 (8.9%) patients. Conclusion: Reconstruction of the breast with TDF is the method of choice and priority for patients who underwent radiation therapy with a lack of integumentary tissues to cover the implant. TDF is a «good» plastic material and could be used in patients with severe defect of breast shape after organ-preserving surgery and mastectomy. TDF is characterized by a low incidence of complications. The use of TDF does not worsen the rehabilitation of patients and does not shift the timing of adjuvant treatment.

CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES TO THE RAPID DETECTION OF CAMPYLOBACTER SPP. IN MEAT OF SLAUGHTER ANIMALS

The modern approach to quality assurance of food products based on the ISO 9000 standards indicates the need for the implementation of quality management systems in processing plants. According to the analysis of scientific publication databases (Science Direct and Web of Science), it is established that only 0.5–1.7% of publications are related to studying meat of slaughter animals (except for birds) concerning the presence of Campylobacter. The priority method of investigation is PCR. Ready-to-use PCR test system was developed for the detection of Campylobacter spp. on the basis of selected gene-specific primers to bacteria of Campylobacter genus. Specificity of the test system is established for Gram-negative bacteria of Salmonella, Escherichia, and Proteus genera, and for oxidase-positive Aeromonas. Gene-specific primers for Campylobacter were selected and ready-to-use PCR test system was developed on their basis. It was found that the selected primers have 100% convergence to the genome of Campylobacter genus bacteria, the PCR efficiency is not less than 95%, and the detection limit is not more than 1× 10 4 CFU/g. When estimating the specificity of the primers, it was taken into account that the bacteria of Campylobacter genus may be incorporated in a consortium with intestine microbiome, mainly with Enterobacteriaceae and lactic acid bacteria. However, Bolton’s enrichment medium is selective and, during the cultivation process, suppresses the growth of Gram-positive lactic acid bacteria. It was found that the selected primers were 100% specific and did not give false positive reactions with this group of microorganisms. The developed test system was successfully validated in a cycle of qualitative tests in the FEPAS system and implemented into laboratory practice. It was proved that the developed test system may be used both in screening at the stages of Campylobacter enrichment and in identification of pure culture of the microorganism.

Functional and linguosemiotic factors of reproducing artlangs in translation

The article is dedicated to determining functional and linguosemiotic characteristics of artlangs as factors of their translation. Artlangs are defined as artificially created languages that function in literary discourse as a means of making fantastic worldview more expressive. Unlike planned languages, whose leading function is communicative, artlangs primarily realize aesthetic function that determines the specifics of their reproduction in translation as a stylistic dominant of such genres as utopia / dystopia, fantasy, and fairytale. Linguocreative function of artlangs also has a direct impact on the formation of the strategies of their reproduction in translation, since perceiving the mechanisms of the author’s linguocreative activity helps the translator act in a similar manner while construing the text of translation. According to linguosemiotic criterion, all artlangs fall into two classes – a posteriori and a priori ones. A posteriori artlangs comprise lexemes whose structural components are borrowed from natural languages. A priori artlangs, in their turn, comprise lexemes that demonstrate no relevance to natural languages. The priority method of translating a posteriori artlangs, whose words possess internal form and, consequently, can undergo morphemic segmentation, is calque (loan translation) which is seen in this paper as a manifestation of domestication strategy. The priority method of translating a priori artlangs whose lexemes possess no internal form is transcoding which is seen in this paper as a manifestation of foreignization strategy. As an example of a posteriori artlangs, G. Orwell’s Newspeak is considered; as an example of a priori artlangs, R. Adams’s Lapine language is considered.

Денационализация и аренда в мелкой промышленности Сибири при переходе от военного коммунизма к новой экономической политике (1921—1923 годы)

Study of the processes of denationalization and rent in small industry of Siberia during transition from war communism to new economic policy allows to more fully reveal the essence of the NEP and Bolsheviks’ purpose in relation to smallholders, to show the implementation of these NEP areas in Siberia, to highlight its features. The main sources of study were the published papers of the regional Soviet and party institutions, as well as materials from the holdings of Russian state archive of economy and the State archive of the Novosibirsk region, part of which were introduced in the scientific usage for the first time. The article gives a brief description of the state of artisan production in the region in 1921. The conclusion is made about presence of conditions for the restoration of small industry. The process of denationalization, its dates and objects are analyzed. The return of the cooperative industry is discussed. The peculiarities of the lease campaign, its scope, prospects and role in the Siberian economy are revealed. Priority methods of the policy of denationalization and rent are described. Attention to regional approaches in their implementation from 1921 to 1923 is paid. The author comes to the conclusion that, despite some positive aspects in the implementation of the data in the NEP areas, they were limited and in the beginning of the new economic policy often continued to coexist with the military and Communist methods of management in the Siberian small-scale industry.

Why Peace Agreement Fails in Zanzibar?

Peace agreements have been a suitable and appropriate method of settling disputes among the aggrieved parties worldwide. Many of the countries with conflicts whether within (internal conflicts) the country or with another country (external conflicts for instance Lake Lanoux case between Spain and France over the utilization of certain waters in the Pyrenees for a hydroelectric scheme) mostly preferred peace agreements as their first priority method of putting aside their differences. But in most cases this methodology of settling disputes or conflicts fails, and other methodology which are muscular methods such as using army forces and the likes of are deployed. In this paper, the concerned issues is why this methodology of settling conflicts between countries or members or groups of people to a great extent fails, hence resulted to the deploy of another methods of settling disputes with the case study of Zanzibar-Tanzania Island.

Sustainable fuel portfolio optimization: Integrated fuzzy multi-objective programming and multi-criteria decision making

The chronic illness of transportation sector is its excessive dependence on petroleum products that necessitates immediate actions to mitigate negative externalities. Developing an environmentally benign, economically feasible, and socially acceptable fuel portfolio can generally, improve the sustainability of future transportation systems. This study aims to predict an optimal fuel portfolio based on different concerns for light-duty vehicles of Iran in the light of alternative fuels until 2025. Six potential fossil and renewable fuels including gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquid petroleum gas (LPG), a mixture of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline (E85) and biodiesel, and one gasoline-electric hybrid technology competed through an integrated fuzzy multi-objective programming. Seven goals with environmental, cost, social and policy nature, as well as systematic constraints and fuel priority (obtained by the application of a multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) method) had to be met in the model. The solution of the model along with the sensitivity analysis of weights and aspiration levels indicated that with an acceptable possibility of achieving the goals, CNG had the greatest share in the optimal fuel portfolio followed by gasoline, LPG and diesel. Through the intended horizon, the fossil fuels’ share has declined such that 13.5% of the optimal portfolio was replaced by hybrid technology, biodiesel and E85 in 2025, and more importantly, carbon dioxide emission and fuel cost could be mitigated by 11% and 18%, respectively in the same year. Two scenarios focusing on environmental and cost goals were defined through assigning 70% and 80% of the weights to the related goals, respectively; the results revealed that the main characteristics of the optimal portfolio were stable. Likewise, the analysis of the aspiration and tolerance levels of the goals proved the stability of the model and revealed that these parameters play a sensitive role in the model and could affect the optimality and feasibility of the solutions.

Investigation of Heat Pump Operation Strategies with Thermal Storage in Heating Conditions

A heat pump with thermal storage system is a system that operates a heat pump during nighttime using inexpensive electricity; during this time, the generated thermal energy is stored in a thermal storage tank. The stored thermal energy is used by the heat pump during daytime. Based on a model of a dual latent thermal storage tank and a heat pump, this study conducts control simulations using both conventional and advanced methods for heating in a building. Conventional methods include the thermal storage priority method and the heat pump priority method, while advanced approaches include the region control method and the dynamic programming method. The heating load required for an office building is identified using TRNSYS (Transient system simulation), used for simulations of various control methods. The thermal storage priority method shows a low coefficient of performance (COP), while the heat pump priority method leads to high electricity costs due to the low use of thermal storage. In contrast, electricity costs are lower for the region control method, which operates using the optimal part load ratio of the heat pump, and for dynamic programming, which operates the system by following the minimum cost path. According to simulation results for the winter season, the electricity costs using the dynamic programming method are 17% and 9% lower than those of the heat pump priority and thermal storage priority methods, respectively. The region control method shows results similar to the dynamic programming method with respect to electricity costs. In conclusion, advanced control methods are proven to have advantages over conventional methods in terms of power consumption and electricity costs.

Heating performance analysis of the region control method for heat pump with thermal storage system

A heat pump with thermal storage system comprises a heat pump and a thermal storage tank. Heat pumps store thermal energy in the thermal storage tank during the night; this then allows for the stored thermal energy and heat pump to meet the heating load demands during the day. This system contributes to the stabilization of the electric power supply and demand as well as makes it possible to realize the economic benefit of using inexpensive electric power during the night. Control strategies include the use of conventional control methods such as thermal storage priority and heat pump priority methods and region control methods. The region control method combines the advantages of both conventional methods. In this study, the system comprises a heat pump with a latent thermal storage tank. The heating load is that required for an office building and was calculated using the TRNSYS software. The power consumption and electricity cost were analyzed by conducting experiments according to the heating load size and each of the three control methods. The region control method was performed at the optimal operating ratio, which was the best in terms of electricity cost. It was noted that the utilization ratio of the thermal storage tank was also high. When comparing the region control method at 80 % design load with the thermal storage priority method, the heat pump coefficient of performance was higher and the power cost was lower by 5.7 %. However, the utilization ratio of thermal storage was higher than the heat pump priority method and the power cost was 5.2 % lower. Therefore, it is confirmed that the region control method is more effective than the conventional methods.

Heterogeneity of road traffic accident rate in the Russian cities and the need of usage various methods of transport safety management

The article considers one of the topical problems of road safety management at the federal level - the problem of the heterogeneity of road traffic accident rate in Russian cities. The article analyzes actual statistical data on road traffic accident rate in the administrative centers of Russia. The histograms of the distribution of the values of two most important road accidents characteristics - Social Risk HR and Severity Rate of Road Accidents - formed in 2016 in administrative centers of Russia are presented. On the basis of the regression model of the statistical connection between Severity Rate of Road Accidents and Social Risk HR, a classification of the Russian cities based on the level of actual road traffic accident rate was developed. On the basis of this classification a differentiated system of priority methods for organizing the safe functioning of transport systems in the cities of Russia is proposed.

Abstract 4538: UniConSig: A new algorithm for genome wide quantification of gene functions and disease associations

Abstract One of the greatest hurdles for cancer biologists is to identify the cancer-causal genes from thousands of candidate genes suggested by large-scale genomics or deep sequencing studies. In our previous study, we discovered that cancer genes possess a complicated yet distinct “gene concept signature.” Concept Signatures include cancer-related signaling pathways, molecular interactions, transcriptional motifs, protein domains, and gene ontologies. We developed a Concept Signature (or ConSig) analysis that prioritizes the biological importance of candidate genes underlying cancer by computing their strength of association with those cancer-related signature concepts. The ConSig analysis has facilitated the discovery of a recurrent ESR1-CCDC170 gene fusion in more aggressive Luminal B breast cancers (Nat. Commun. 2014) as well as TLK2, MAP3K3, and MYST3 amplifications in aggressive luminal breast cancer (Nat. Commun. 2016, J. Pathol. 2014, Oncogene In press). Nevertheless, current candidate gene prioritization methods, including ConSig, are subject to bias from redundancy in the compiled knowledgebase (also known as gene concept database). This leads to variation of the gene ranking and jeopardizes the reliability of the priority methods. In light of these problems, we developed an innovative, universal algorithm called uniConSig. By penalizing overlapping concepts with a stable parameter, “effective concept number”, we reduced the fluctuation in uniConSig scores, and stabilized the ranking of the genes even with the randomly duplicated gene concept databases. We tested the uniConSig algorithm by identifying known cancer genes based on a cancer gene list, and found that the uniConSig algorithm demonstrated significantly enhanced prioritization of known cancer genes compared to the ConSig algorithm, and the results are stable even in the presence of randomly duplicated gene concept databases. In addition, we used calculations based on the dominant/recessive cancer gene lists, and were able to provide a quantitative measure of the potential dominant/recessive functions of human genes underlying cancer. As an example application of this algorithm, we show that the uniConSig scores can directly reveal the primary oncogene targets from genomic amplicons in breast cancer.To our knowledge, UniConSig is the first tool for genome-wide quantification of gene functions and disease associations. UniConSig has broad applications on gene prioritization for genomic-based studies to discover new disease causal genes or new gene functions. Citation Format: Xu Chi, Meenakshi Anurag, Sartor A. Maureen, Xiaosong Wang. UniConSig: A new algorithm for genome wide quantification of gene functions and disease associations [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4538. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4538

Prioritization of hesitant multiplicative preference relations based on data envelopment analysis for group decision making

Hesitant multiplicative preference relations (HMPRs) are utilized to describe situations where a decision maker gives several possible values by Saaty’s 1-9 scale in pairwise comparison. For further applications of HMPRs, this paper develops two priority methods based on data envelopment analysis (DEA) for group decision making. These methods include self-weight prioritization and the cross-weight prioritization, which are similar to the self-evaluation efficiency and the cross-evaluation efficiency in DEA theory, respectively. We prove that both of them can generate true priority weights for consistent HMPRs. The mechanisms of these proposed methods are illustrated with numerical examples. Also, comparisons with other methods are performed to show the advantages of the proposed methods.

FROM STAGNATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RUSSIAN INDUSTRY: WAYS TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND REGULATION

The Article is dedicated to research of the ways to achieve Russia’s strategic goals in the sphere of industrial development under the conditions when import substitution has become one of the main governmental policy trends over the recent years. It is shown that the industrial policy should be underpinned by the project management in order to ensure sustainable development of the key sector of the national economy. Systematized are priority methods of long-term support of industrial enterprises aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of domestic products.

Унифицированный подход к лечению больных с проникающими колото-резаными ранениями брюшной полости

За період з 2010 до 2015 р., за даними МОЗ України, загальний показник смертності в Україні перебуває на рівні 14,5–16,3 ‰. При цьому, в 6 % всіх випадків смерті причиною були травми. Відкрита проникаюча травма живота залишається однією з основних причин летальних випадків. Втім, ножові поранення зустрічаються майже в три рази частіше, ніж вогнепальні [3]. В останні роки в світі переглянули підходи до ведення хворих із проникаючими пораненнями, схилившись у бік вибіркового застосування операційного і неопераційного методів лікування [2]. Значного поширення набув метод селективного неопераційного лікування хворих з проникаючими пораненнями черевної порожнини [4, 10, 14]. Суть даного методу полягає в тому, що, застосовуючи сучасні діагностичні методи, а також клінічний моніторинг стану хворого, в певних випадках можна обійтися без застосування лапаротомії. Дана методика дозволяє в 55 % випадків ножових поранень вести хворих, не вдаючись до операційного втручання, скоротити кількість непотрібних лапаротомій до 9–19 %, зменшити тривалість перебування хворих у стаціонарі до 3,9 дня порівняно з 6 при лапаротомії, а також знизити матеріальні витрати на лікування пацієнтів.При відборі хворих для неопераційного ведення краще орієнтуватися на дані загальноклінічних досліджень (загальна чутливість і специфічність серійного клінічного обстеження черевної порожнини становить 87,3 і 93,5 % відповідно) [10]. Доброю допомогою є дані комп’ютерної томографії, однак чутливість і специфічність даного методу коливається у різних авторів від 60 до 90 % [4, 9, 11, 13]. Діагностична цінність ультразвукового дослідження в перші години після отриманої травми становить всього 46 % [12], а оглядової рентгенографії – 2,6 % [7]. Застосування лапароскопії в діагностиці і лікуванні колото-різаних поранень черевної стінки є пріоритетним методом у разі стабільної гемодинаміки у хворих [8].

Continuing education as one of the priority methods of postgraduate study: prospects and problems of implementation in the family medicine

The article emphasizes the priority of continuing education in a family doctor’s professional development and training. Current issues of continuing education as a strategic and prospective direction in postgraduate education development are indicated. The attention is paid to the impact of continuing education on doctor’s professional development in terms of World Federation of Medical Education. The development of postgraduate education according to the concept of higher medical education in Ukraine and the National Doctrine is also determined. The basic trends of study in Europe and Ukraine, major development directions, prospects and problems of professional education for family doctors are presented. Characteristic features of continuing education, major means and ways of implementation within postgraduate education are indicated. The attention of the medical community is drawn to the issues of continuing education in Ukraine. The existing system of family doctor’s training at the Department of Therapy and Family Medicine of Postgraduate Education as well as stages of organizational approach to the study of family doctors in the Carpathian region is analyzed.Ways to overcome the problems and the approach of continuing education to international standards are determined. It has been concluded that knowledge gained during continuous postgraduate education and medical practice as well as increase in motivation for continuous renewal and mastering practical skills obtained with experience will be the foundation of successful family doctor’s practice and decisive fac tor in the development of family medicine in general. There are many unsolved issues on the way to improve the system of postgraduate professional education in Ukraine and the Department of Therapy and Family Medicine. Therefore, permanent search for new advanced methods of family doctors’ professional development with the involve ment of the latest teaching methods and advanced technologies taking into account healthcare system features in the country in general and in the Carpathian region in particular in the period of its reforming is necessary.

Pathologically confirmed pulmonary Actinomycosis in 11 cases: clinical features and misdiagnosis analysis

Objective To analyze the pathologically confirmed pulmonary Actinomycosis in the 11 patients in focusing on clinical features and mis-diagnostic reasons so as to improve physicians' awareness of this rare disease and reduce the misdiagnosis. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 11 cases with pathologically confirmed pulmonary Actinomycosis during January 2003-August 2015.The clinical data and main causes of misdiagnosis in these cases were collected and analyzed. Results The study included 11 patients with a mean age of(53.0±11.6.0)years.Among the 11 cases, 8(72.7%)patients had complications, 6(54.5%)were current or ex-smokers.Main clinical manifestations of 11 cases were cough(11/11, 100.0%), sputum(11/11, 100.0%), hemoptysis(7/11, 63.6%), chest pain(6/11, 54.5%)and fever(3/11, 27.3%). Ten patients presented with one lobe of lung lesions, including 4 patients in the lower lobe and 3 in the upper lobe of the left lung, 2 in the upper lobe and 1 in the lower lobe of the right lung.While, the remained one case presented with lesion locating in right main bronchus.Iconography often presented as pulmonary mass shadow, consolidation shadow, spicule sign, lobulation sign, hilar and/or mediastinal lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion.Vacuolar lesions were observed in some of the focuses.Flexible bronchoscopy was performed in 8(72.7%)patients.Among them, 7 patients showed mucosal swelling and congestion, luminal occlusion with purulence secretion, 2 cases with polypoid neoplasm.Initial misdiagnosis rate were 100%(11/11), among which 7 cases were misdiagnosed as lung cancer, 2 cases as fungus infection, and 1 case as pulmonary tuberculosis and 1 case as pneumonia, respectively.All patients were definitely diagnosed by biopsy finding an evidence of hyphae of Actinomycosis in lung tissue specimens.The definitive diagnosis was made by CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy in 4 cases, by transbronchial lung biopsy(TBLB)in 5 cases and by thoracotomy or video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery(VATS)in 1 case respectively.Actinomycosis in most patients was cured with high-dose penicillin administration over a prolonged period. Conclusions The diagnosis of pulmonary Actinomycosis remains challenging via its non-specific clinical symptoms and iconography features, and the presence of comorbidity may further increase the difficulty and complexity of diagnosis, leading to delaying-or mistaking-diagnosis.Obtaining positively pathological specimens is diagnostic key.Transbronchial lung biopsy through a bronchoscope and CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy are the priority methods. Key words: Actinomycosis; Diagnostic errors

Intelligent dynamic spectrum allocation with bandwidth flexibility in cognitive radio network

Cognitive radio (CR) is a popular wireless technology for efficient utilization of spectrum. CR network senses the unused frequency bands of the primary users (PUs) and assign them to the unlicensed secondary users (SUs). One of the major challenges in cognitive network is the allocation of available spectrum which indirectly contributes to the efficient spectrum utilization. A novel intelligent dynamic spectrum allocation with bandwidth flexibility is presented in this paper. Fuzzy inference system has been used to evaluate and rate the channel (CH) quality and the SU. The quality based spectrum allocation has been carried out. As the primary CH bandwidth differ from the SU and in the case, the SU bandwidth is lower to PU, accommodation of more than one secondary CH into primary is possible. To utilize this facility, bandwidth flexibility is incorporated in the intelligent spectrum allocation. The intelligent spectrum allocation techniques are compared with the sequence based method of spectrum allocation and priority based allocation. The quality measures utilized for comparison are service rate, average packet loss and average delay. On these measures intelligent dynamic bandwidth flexible spectrum allocation method is found to be better, compared to other three methods.

Hesitant fuzzy linguistic multi-criteria decision making based on possibility theory

Hesitant fuzzy linguistic term sets (HFLTSs) have attracted a lot of attention recently due to their distinguished power and efficiency for dealing with the situations in which the decision makers may hesitate among several linguistic terms to assess alternatives. To extend the applicability of HFLTSs, this paper firstly analyses the existing comparison methods for HFLTSs, and then develops some new different possibility degree formulas which are convenience and easy of calculation. After that, two novel methods of hesitant fuzzy linguistic multi-criteria decision making are developed based on the priority method of fuzzy complementary preference relation and the idea of PROMETHEE, in which multiple steps may be integrated into one formula to simplify the computational process. Especially, the two proposed methods are designed to reflect the degree of one alternative to be superior or inferior to another one properly. Finally, an experiment is designed to test and compare the proposed methods and other existing ones. The results show that the proposed methods provide us with a useful way for decision making in fuzzy environments.

Image colourisation using linear neighbourhood propagation and weighted smoothing

Image colourisation is the process used to add colour to a grey-level image using computers and is based on the local artificial colours of the image. This study proposes a colourisation method based on linear neighbourhood propagation and weighted smoothing. The method avoids the colour-crossing problem associated with existing methods and enables the achievement of natural and smooth colours. The image is initially coloured by hands, and this is followed by the development of a linear neighbourhood matrix model. The process is completed by global colourisation using the priority method. The final colourised image emerges through a filter-based smoothing treatment from the boundary to the smooth area. Compared to currently popular colourisation methods, the proposed method simplifies the requirements for the initial colourisation and also produces clearer, natural, and higher-quality images.